Bill Text: VA HR169 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of James Moore Stokely.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-02-26 - Bill text as passed House (HR169ER) [HR169 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HR169-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, James Moore Stokely, a respected leader in the insurance industry and a dedicated volunteer firefighter who used his professional expertise to support his fellow public safety officers in a variety of ways, died on January 23, 2024; and
WHEREAS, James Stokely, best known as "Jim" or "Mo," was born in Del Rio, Tennessee, and later moved to Virginia, where he graduated from what is now John R. Lewis High School in Springfield in 1966; he remained a loyal alumnus of the school and proudly organized class reunions for many years; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely earned an associate degree from Chowan College in North Carolina, supporting his education by completing one semester of study, taking time off to work, then returning for another semester; and
WHEREAS, in the early 1970s, Jim Stokely settled in Old Town Manassas with his wife, Mary, to raise a family, and they became active and generous members of the community who always found ways to help others; and
WHEREAS, shortly after moving to the area, Jim Stokely joined the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company; he served in numerous capacities over the next 50 years, including line and administrative officer, president, and chair of the foundation board; he was a regular at training events and competitions, led several outreach programs and fundraisers to stay engaged with the community, and presided over the department's 120th anniversary celebration; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely was a dedicated member and past president of the Virginia State Firefighters Association, demonstrating efficient and effective leadership, for which he was inducted into the organization's Hall of Fame; his presidency coincided with the attacks on September 11, 2001, and he fought to ensure affected firefighters received credit and benefits; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely provided his expert counsel to the Virginia Insurance Commissioner's Office on matters involving fire service, recognized outstanding firefighters as a member of the Virginia Volunteer Firefighters' & Rescue Squad Workers' Service Award Program Board, and was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to serve on the Virginia Fire Program Board; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely was a staunch advocate for firefighters and other public safety officers at the local and state levels; among many policy initiatives, he supported changes to worker's compensation laws related to volunteer firefighters and raised awareness of work-related cancer for firefighters; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely was a certified insurance counselor and a certified professional insurance agent and enjoyed a long career in property and casualty insurance; he served as past president of The Independent Insurance Agents of Northern Virginia and on the advisory boards of Utica Mutual Insurance Company and USF&G Insurance Company; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely provided insurance to individuals, large and small businesses, school boards, museums, and localities, and he combined his two vocations by developing specialty plans for fire and rescue departments, including both small volunteer departments and large municipal agencies; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely worked tirelessly to ensure that firefighters who served and sacrificed on behalf of the members of their community had the support and resources they deserved; and
WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Jim Stokely was named Virginia's Agent of the Year by the Insurance Association of Virginia and was featured in Utica Mutual Insurance Company's annual report as Agent of the Year; he also received the 2009 Wade C. House Award for his outstanding contributions to the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely was a passionate conservationist who enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors with family and friends, and he and his wife traveled the world after his well-earned retirement; and
WHEREAS, Jim Stokely will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Mary; his children, Kathryn and John, and their families; and numerous other family members, friends, and colleagues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of James Moore Stokely, an accomplished insurance agent who was devoted to community service as a volunteer firefighter; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of James Moore Stokely as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.
